Independent Ontario Senator Frances Lankin, who sponsored the bill, told broadcaster CBC: “I’m very, very happy. There’s been 30 years plus of activity trying to make our national anthem, this important thing about our country, inclusive of all of us.

“… this may be small, it’s about two words, but it’s huge … we can now sing it with pride knowing the law will support us in terms of the language.

“I’m proud to be part of the group that made this happen.”

O Canada actually started out as a gender-neutral song, the second line originally reading: “True patriot love thou dost in us command.”